Mitch1musPrime t1_j6nqk48 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 5:08 PM

Reply to comment by NativeNYer10019 in Chicago prosecutor dropping R. Kelly sex-abuse charges by roundposter

The decision to move forward should be based on a grand jury if the victim elects to press charges, and there is sufficient evidence. That is the DA serving taxpayers, b/c the victims are taxpayers.

And again, separate crimes, separate punishments. If the judge choose to run those sentences concurrently, so be it.

And yes, I am speaking with my emotions because I have empathy for the victim. As we all should. They have right to have a crime committed against them be prosecuted just as the others did. End of story,

NativeNYer10019 t1_j6nrk34 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 5:14 PM

Yeah, that’s not how it works. I too have empathy for the victims, but I also understand how real life works. And allocating multiple millions of dollars to nothing but a symbolic gesture would be wasteful spending of the other millions of Chicago taxpayers dollars. You can have empathy without allowing it to blind you, you can feel bad for what these victims have been through and still be objective and rational. And the reality is, this man is already likely going to die in prison for what he’s done, piling on isn’t going to change anything. Whether you like it or not. Intensive therapy will help these victims far more than any additional conviction will. I hope they get it.

Mitch1musPrime t1_j6ntgvm wrote on January 31, 2023 at 5:26 PM

In fact, read this article and focus on this piece:

“Prosecutors sometimes choose to go ahead with more trials out of a concern that convictions elsewhere could be reversed during appeals. They see an opportunity for additional convictions as insurance.

“We didn’t do a monetary cost-benefit analysis,” Foxx said, adding, however, that resources spent on a trial now could instead be used “in advocacy for other survivors of sexual abuse.”

And then recognize this one victim’s assault case began before the federal convictions ever spooled up:

“Foxx announced the Cook County charges months before the federal cases in New York and Chicago. Foxx's office alleged he repeatedly sought out girls for sex, including one he encountered at her 16th birthday party and another who met Kelly while he was on trial in 2008.”

And then worst of all, the DA begged women to come forward to strengthen the case:

“Foxx, who in 2019 had pleaded with women and girls to come forward so she could pursue charges against Kelly, acknowledged that the decision “may be disappointing” to his accusers.”

It is a colossal failure for those specific victims that R Kelly will be guilty of everything but actual sexual abuse.

NativeNYer10019 t1_j6nuwck wrote on January 31, 2023 at 5:34 PM

Right, that was all done BEFORE the Feds convicted him, and they’d started this case and begged those victims to come forward because they wanted to ensure he’d be put away. But now that he’s indeed been put away, there is no need to drag this prosecution out further. While that might cause emotional pain to the victims, it wouldn’t be a sound reasonable or financial decision to still move ahead.

Also, if on some crazy twist R Kelly got out of the federal penitentiary, there is no statute of limitations on sex crimes and Chicago could bring this up again in the future at their own behest. This Chicago case and what they’ve gathered thus far will always be available to go after him again if need be. The need it just not there at this time. It’d be unreasonable to spend the kind of money this will cost to move ahead knowing he won’t likely leave prison alive already. Like it or not emotionally, that’s the most logical conclusion at this time.

Mitch1musPrime t1_j6ns1bd wrote on January 31, 2023 at 5:17 PM

Why would it cost tax payers millions of dollars? Is it the judge making that money? The prosecutors who have a specific salary they are paid? Is it the court clerks? Why assume this would cost millions? It costs the defendant a fuck ton of money because they have to pay a defense attorney, but where does this “millions” come from for one trial?

NativeNYer10019 t1_j6nsf0z wrote on January 31, 2023 at 5:19 PM

It costs EVERYONE a shit ton of money to hold any length trial, but especially a lengthy, high profile one like this. The costs associated with moving ahead with this would be astronomical.